Australia commends South Africa’s commitment and leadership on creating a normative framework for equality and non-discrimination, particularly sexual orientation and gender identity.

Australia laments the continuing high levels of sexual and gender-based violence in South Africa and recommends early adoption of the Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill.

Australia is concerned by ongoing incidents of xenophobic violence. We commend South Africa’s efforts to address xenophobia and encourage further work to prevent and combat xenophobia, racial discrimination and related intolerance. We are encouraged by South Africa’s recent decision to host, in association with the African Union, the “Global African Diaspora Summit” from 23 to 25 May in Johannesburg.

We welcome South Africa’s ongoing efforts to address HIV/AIDS.

We recommend South Africa implement the Maternal Child and Women’s Health Strategy (2009-14) and develop sustained measures to address the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls, who are disproportionately affected.